Everyday regular life is good for back pain

Lower back pain (LBP) is a major handicap to many people throughout the world and their lifestyles can be seriously affected by the condition. Resumption of everyday activities and exercise is the best course to follow to reduce further disability and pain, according to the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP)

Those who fear future chronic lower back pain are those who cannot control or cope with their pain. They take excessive rest periods and believe they have a more sinister problem. These patients have a bigger risk of developing serious back pain. One can understand their fears given the usual recognition of lower back pain, but these are not accurate and can be altered.

Avoiding Back Pain

To create a greater understanding of lower back pain, the society has produced an information booklet, Challenging Back Pain Myths, and this will eliminate most of the myths surrounding the condition. Kieran O’Sullivan, chairperson of Move4Health for 2011, has said that changing one’s attitude and beliefs about lower back pain reduces sick leave and disability and is beneficial to the people themselves.

O’Sullivan said that if one attempted to change the attitude of a person suffering from this pain with a direct approach then progress could take some time. Research has shown that where public health has intervened to change a person’s belief about lower back pain, that person is more likely to accept that long rest periods are not required or extended sick leave.